Engine Noise while attempting to start

[redbudds]

Hello all. I have a 2005 115 DI engine. Engine has about 800 hrs. I've owned it for 3 years now with no real issues. I was using boat last weekend when engine dies as I was running it at about 4500rpm. I believe it ran out of gas. My inboard fuel tank gauge is faulty. I had my portable tank full so I was not concerned. I switched tanks and when I tried to start the engine again I get this loud squealing noise and the engine intermittently cranks and then won't crank. I have managed to start the engine 2 times since and once it is running it seems to be ok and I even put in gear tied to dock and I did not notice any hesitation or any problems when it was running. I will try to attach an audio clip, hopefully is uploads

 

[Joe Reeves]

A loud squealing noise can usually be contributed to a dry starter bushing, the bendix drive.... some portion of the electric starter.

 

[redbudds]

Joe thnx for the reply. I have an update. I suspect that the starter is making the noise and you may be right that the bendex needs lube/oil but I'm having the problem of the engine not starting. Today one of the marina mechanics looked at it briefly with me. we tried several cranks and it would not start, he sprayed a little ether in the intake ports and she started and ran. after about a minute of running he shut it off and then tried to start and again it will not start. Is my fuel pump not supplying enough pressure to start yet supplying enough to run once started?

 

[ondarvr]

If the starter is in bad shape it may not be spinning the motor fast enough to easily start it.

 

[redbudds]

There is something wrong with the starter but it's not the reason it's not starting. Sprayed a small amount of ether and she kicked and ran. Does anyone here know what the Fuel Lift Pump does and what the Vapor Seperator Pump does? Which pump is the one that supplies the pressure to the injectors?

 

[Faztbullet]

A DI with a good battery will start with a 1/2 turn of the flywheel once it syncs with CPS. Need to hook it to a puter and see if ya got codes. Sounds like injectors are not priming when attempting start. Either EMMproblem of fuel pressure. The lift pump is the fuel pump for VS.

 

[Joe Reeves]

The fact that the electric starter is acting up drags into the issue that the engine must crank over approximately 300 rpm in order for the stator to generate the approximate AC voltage to the power-pack capacitor, needed to energize the power-pack.

Although the engine will not start normally BUT will start when you spray in ether... that could be misleading as ether has a lower exploding point as compared to gasoline, especially gasoline when mixed with oil as it obviously is when it reaches the combustion chamber.

This reply is not to be construed as being argumentative with anyone...... just something that might not want to be overlooked, especially if the engine started okay until this squealing condition surfaced.

 

[redbudds]

Thnx Fazt and Joe. That's good info from both. I believe the squeal from the starter may have been there all along but it was not an issue as Fazt mentioned the DI engine starts rather easily so I was never cranking it long enough for the starter to be an issue. The fact that the engine does run kind of leads me to believe that the High pressure Pump is functioning. I believe it's the lift pump that's not supplying fuel to the high pressure pump. @$300+ I'm not about to run out and try one so I am still seeking info and suggestions and hopefully someone here knows how & what test to perform to figure out what fuel component it may be

 

[ondarvr]

The plan should be to fix the starter since you know it does have an issue, then see if it starts, if that doesn't help look at the pump.

 

[Faztbullet]

The fact that the electric starter is acting up drags into the issue that the engine must crank over approximately 300 rpm in order for the stator to generate the approximate AC voltage to the power-pack capacitor, needed to energize the power-pack.

No pack Joe....works like BCD ignition.

 

[redbudds]

Thnx for all the info and ideas guys... Does anyone here know how to check/test the Fuel Lift Pump? Does anyone here know where to oil/grease the Bendex mechanism on the starter?

 

[Joe Reeves]

- No pack Joe....works like BCD ignition.

Yeah... Wasn't thinking straight. Having retired in 1991, I should pay attention to the year of the posted engines and avoid commenting on them.

In my day, a BCD was a bad calculating dame!

 

[Silvertip]

With no noise to listen to, I find it hard to believe the Bendix is capable of a squealing noise, much less a loud one since it turns at the same speed as the starter motor shaft on which it is mounted. That is unless it is not rising up the shaft and the shaft momentarily spins in side it. In that case the engine would not be turning over an all you hear is the starter motor running. On the other hand, if the screech of starter you hear and the engine is not turning over, the Bendix is not engaging the flywheel and what you hear is the Bendix and flywheel gear teeth being ground away because they are not meshing. So either way -- remove the engine cover and watch the Bendix and flywheel. If the Bendix engages the flywheel, the flywheel spins, and noise you describe is present, FIX THE STARTER. It has bad bushings.

 

[Faztbullet]

Remember this is a gear reduction starter not a direct drive......

 

[redbudds]

Got an update here... My issue has been fixed.... it was the starter, the engine is running strong as it had been all along... I took the time to open the old starter. What happened was there is a bushing at the bottom that armature shaft sits in. That bushing broke apart and the armature was then wobbling inside the case. How it worked for so long is beyond me. I want to thank everyone here who chimed in with info and advice.

Thanks to All

Bill